"In polymer chemistry, polymerization (American English), or polymerisation (British English), is a process of reacting monomer molecules together in a chemical reaction to form polymer chains or three-dimensional networks."
The different methods for synthesizing polymers, such as condensation, addition, and ring-opening polymerization.
"In chemical compounds, polymerization can occur via a variety of reaction mechanisms that vary in complexity due to the functional groups present in the reactants and their inherent steric effects."
"In more straightforward polymerizations, alkenes form polymers through relatively simple radical reactions."
"Useful compounds such as polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which are produced in high tonnages each year due to their usefulness in manufacturing processes of commercial products, such as piping, insulation, and packaging."
"Polymers such as PVC are referred to as 'homopolymers', as they consist of repeated long chains or structures of the same monomer unit."
"Polymers that consist of more than one monomer unit are referred to as copolymers (or co-polymers)."
"Other monomer units, such as formaldehyde hydrates or simple aldehydes, are able to polymerize themselves at quite low temperatures (ca. −80 °C) to form trimers; molecules consisting of 3 monomer units."
"Such small polymers are referred to as oligomers."
"Because formaldehyde is an exceptionally reactive electrophile, it allows nucleophilic addition of hemiacetal intermediates."
"Polymerization that is not sufficiently moderated and proceeds at a fast rate can be very hazardous."
"Alkanes can also be polymerized, but only with the help of strong acids."
"There are many forms of polymerization and different systems exist to categorize them."
"Reactions involving substitution at a carbonyl group require more complex synthesis due to the way in which reactants polymerize."
"Polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) [...] produced in high tonnages each year due to their usefulness in manufacturing processes of commercial products, such as piping, insulation, and packaging."
"Formaldehyde hydrates or simple aldehydes [...] polymerize themselves at quite low temperatures (ca. −80 °C) to form trimers."
"Trimers are molecules consisting of 3 monomer units, which can cyclize to form ring cyclic structures or undergo further reactions to form tetramers."
"Hemiacetal intermediates are short-lived and relatively unstable 'mid-stage' compounds that react with other non-polar molecules present to form more stable polymeric compounds."
"Polymers such as PVC are referred to as 'homopolymers', as they consist of repeated long chains or structures of the same monomer unit."
"This phenomenon is known as autoacceleration."
"Autoacceleration in polymerization can cause fires and explosions."